The WBA currently includes a mix of leading Wi-Fi, mobile and broadband network operators and media players from across the Americas, Europe & Asia Pacific. It is conducting Next Generation Hotspot (NGH) trials that will allow SIM and non-SIM based mobile devices, such as phones, notebooks and tablets, to simply roam on to Wi-Fi hotspots without the need for usernames and passwords. Many of the world’s largest operators and vendors have participated in these trials including AT&T, BT, Orange, NTT DOCOMO, China Mobile, Cisco, LG, Intel and Ericsson.

Shrikant Shenwai, CEO of the WBA said: “The WBA has gone from strength to strength in the last 12 months, growing its membership by nearly 50% to almost 100. At the same time, public Wi-Fi is now perceived as a fundamental component of the mobile network, driven by the membership’s work around interoperability and collaboration, particularly through initiatives such as Next Generation Hotspots (NGH) and Wi-Fi roaming. We welcome these new members to the Alliance and I look forward to meeting them along with other industry leaders from all parts of the ecosystem at our Wi-Fi Global Congress in San Francisco.”

The new members join existing members which include major fixed operators such as BT, Comcast and Time Warner Cable; seven of the top 10 mobile operator groups (by revenue) as well as leading technology companies such as Cisco, Google and Intel.

The second edition of a report on the state of the global public Wi-Fi hotspot market compiled by analyst firm Informa Telecoms & Media, was also published this week at the WBA Wi-Fi Global Congress in San Francisco. It includes a comprehensive survey that was carried out during Q3 2012 to gauge the status of the Wi-Fi market.

About the Wireless Broadband Alliance
Founded in 2003, the aim of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) is to secure an outstanding user experience through the global deployment of next generation Wi-Fi. The WBA and its industry leading members are dedicated to delivering this quality experience through technology innovation, interoperability, and robust security.

Today, membership includes major fixed operators such as BT, Comcast and Time Warner Cable; seven of the top 10 mobile operator groups (by revenue) and leading technology companies such as Cisco, Google and Intel.

WBA member operators collectively serve more than 1 billion subscribers and operate more than 1 million hotspots globally. They also work with international operators to drive innovation, deliver seamless connectivity and optimize network investments. The WBA Board includes AT&T, Boingo Wireless, BT, China Mobile, Cisco Systems, Intel Corporation, iPass, KT Corporation, NTT DOCOMO and Orange. www.wballiance.com